Apparatus for transmitting power and changing speed.



W. H. RODEPELD.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER AND CHANGING SPEED.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE so, 1913.

1,1 17,445. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE so, 1913.

1,1 17,445, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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I 814:0 42nd WILLIAM H. RODEFELD, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER AND CHANGING SPEED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Application filed J une 30, 1913. Serial No. 776,488.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Rom;- FELD, a citizen 6f the United States, residing in Richmond, in the county of WVayne, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Apparatus for Transmitting Power and Changing Speed, of which the following is a full, clear, and accurate exposition and specification, being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude.

Heretofore devices for the purposes for which this invention isintended have been either of a friction or a cog-gear type, both of which have disadvantages,the former being susceptible of considerable wear and it isnot positive in action, while the latter is difficult to engage without noise and danger of injury to the mechanism. As compared with the above my devlce may be termed as being of a roller-type, and it eliminates the disadvantages of the other types, and dispenses with many complications.

The object of my inventlon, broadly speaking, is to produce an apparatus or device for transmitting power and changing speed, which 'will be positive in action, strong and durable in construction, adapted to occupy a minimum amount of space, and which can be manufactured and lnstalled at a comparatively low price.

More particularly stated, my ob ect is to provide a gearless and practically frictionless apparatus for transmitt ng power and for changing speed which YV1ll be noiseless in operation, practically lndestructible in use, and adapted to transmlt a smooth and even change of speed in practice regardless of the action of the operator.

Other objects and particular advantages of my invention will be shown and brought out in the course of the following specification.

In order that the construction and the operation of my invention may be understood, and the several advantages thereof fully appreciated, I will now take up a detalled description thereof in which I Will set forth the invention as briefly and as comprehensively as I may.

It is to be understood that the princ ples of my invention may be carried out in a multitude of ways, but that which I have found to be the most practical 1n operation shaft or driving element.

is shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of my invention, showing the device for changing to one speed different from that of the main shaft or driving element. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view of the spool, or driven element, and its spindle. Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the driving element, or main shaft, and its boss. Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the clamping ring, and the means for changing the diameter thereof. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the driven element, or spool. Fig. 6 is an end view of the driving element and its boss. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of one of the bearing rollers. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of one of the bearing rollers. Fig. 9 shows one of two corresponding edges of one of the sliding blocks, or gudgeons, which carry the rollers. Fig. 10 shows one of the other two, edges of one of the said sliding-blocks, or gudgeons. Fig. 11 is an end view of one of said sliding-blocks, or gudgeons, which carry the rollers. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section, looking down, showing certain of the parts in. the apparatus as constructed for two speeds different from that of the Fig. 13is a horizontal section, looking down, showing certain of the parts in the apparatus as constructed in Fig. 1, but with the addition of a friction clutch mechanism in connection therewith. Fig. 14 is a plan view of the spool or driven element as employed in the construction shown in Fig. 13, same being similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but with the addition of the female member of the friction-clutch above referred to. Fig. 15 is an edge view of the male member of the friction-clutch shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is an end view of the male member of the friction clutch shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 17 is a detail plan view of the driving element, or main shaft, adapted to be used in connection with the friction clutch. Fig. 18 is an end view of the yoke employed to operate in connection with the male member of the friction clutch. Fig. 19 is an edge view of the yoke, and its operating rod, employed in connection with the male member of the friction clutch. And Fig. 20 is a horizontal section, looking down, showing certain of the parts in the apparatus as arranged for two speeds different from that of the drivboxings or bearings 1 and 5 is the shaft 6,

constituting the driving element. Formed integral, or rigidly secured on shaft 6, be-

tween said bearings, is the boss 7 whose diameter depends on conditions hereinafter explained. Secured in the standards 2 and 3 and extending across therebetween, near the base 1, is the bar 8 on which the lower end of, the clamping ring is hinged. Said clamping-ring comprises the two segmental members 9 and 10 whose lower ends interlock each other where they are concentrically pivoted on the bar 8. Extending up from the upper end of member 9 are the two spaced apart ears 11" and 12; and in like manner extending up from the upper end of member 10'are corresponding ears, only one of which appears in the drawings and that is denoted by numeral 14. Mounted between the ears 11 and 12, .on pivot 15, is the angular lever 16 which extends upward and forward. Mounted between the ear 14 and its consort, on pivot 17 is the link 18, the upper or forward end of which is pivoted in the angle of lever 16 on the fulcrum 19 carriedby 'said lever. By the above arrangement it will be noticed that when the lever 16 is turned in one direction on its fulcrum that the ends of the members 9 and 10 will be brought toward each other, while if the lever is moved in theopposite direction said members will be moved apart, for the pur-- pose hereinafter stated. Revolubly mounted around the boss 7 is the spool 20 and formed radially therein, and cutting the periphery thereof, are a plurality of substantially square apertures 0/; (in this instance there being four in number). Each of said apertures a 18 adapted to receive therein one of the rollers 21 which lie longitudinallythereof, that is in an axial direction, and parallel with each other and with the shaft 6. Eac of said rollers is mounted as follows: F rmed in-the periphery of each side of the spool 20 are the radial notches b, each pair thereof-being located centrally of the circumferential length of the respective apertures, the two sides of each notch being and out in their notches. -From the above it is apparent that said rollers may move radially toward and from the shaft 6; Also it will be seen that said rollers 21 are adapted to roll upon the periphery of the boss 7, and also on the inner surface of the clamping ring.

Extending out from the end of the spool 20, concentric therewith, and adapted to surround the shaft ,6, is the spindle 23. Said spindle is journale'd in the bearing 4, and

the shaft .6 extends therethrough, whereby rthe bearing 4 forms a bearing support both 'for the shaft 6 and the spindle 23', substantially as shown in Fig. 1.

- From the above it will be seen that if the shaft 6 be rotated at a given rate of speed, with the lever 16 turned .upward, thatthe rollers 21 will be free, thereby allowing the shaft 6 to revolve without revolving the spindle 23. Now if the lever 16 be turned forward, as '31 Figs. 1 and 4:, then the pressure will eventuate in tightly contacting the clampin -ring, the rollers, and the boss 7-- together, thereby causing the rollers to travel revolubly around-between the boss. 7 andthe inner surface of the clamping ring, Which-of course will cause the spool 20 to revolve, thereby carrying the spindle 23 around therewith, but at a speed less than that of the shaft 6, the ratio depending upon the diameter of the boss 7 and that of the rollers 21. a

I contemplate that any numberof the devices shown in Fig. 1 maybe associated and connected together and operate on asingle shaft 6, each ofthe devices employing a boss secured on the shaft, and with the bosses and the rollers of the various devices of diameters difierent from the others, whereby a number of different speeds may be obtained, as for instance as shown in Fig. 12.

As shown on the right in Fig. 12 a second boss 7 is carried by the shaft 6, the diameter of the boss 7' being greater than that of the boss 7 Operative on the boss 7 are the rollers 21'. which latter are smaller than rollers 21. The collar 23 is formed rigld with the spools 20 and 20', thereforeall of the various. devices are connected together and revolve at the same speed with relation to each other, but it is contemplated that but one of the devices be in engagement at one time, to. operate the spindle 23 common to all. i 3 V 7 It is intended that a pulley, gear, sprocket, or other device (not shown) be secured on the outer left-handportion of spindle 23, to transmit the power from'shaft 6, through one of the devices, to the working mecha-.

nism of a machine or the like (not shown),

Up to this point in the description it will be noticed that no provision is made for utilizing a direct drive, that is to say, for transmitting to the spindle 23 the same speed as that of the shaft 6. Therefore in order to provide a direct drive I employ a clutch mechanism, for instance as that shown in Figs. 13 to 19, inclusive. Said clutch is arranged concentric with shaft 6, and it comprises the cup or female member 24, same being carried by the spool 20.

Slidably mounted on shaft 6 is the cone or male member 25, whose tapering periphery is adapted to be contacted with the converging inner surface of member 24. Member 25 is provided with a hub 26 through which the shaft 6 extends. Formed in the projecting end portion of hub 26 is a channel f, which is for the purpose hereinafter stated. A spline or key 27 is secured in and extends out from the shaft 6, as in Fig. 17, which fits in the channel it, the latter being formed in the inner surface of hub 26, as shown in Fig. 16. By the above it is apparent that the cone 25 may slide longitudinally of the shaft 6, but it is at all times carried revolubly therewith.

As shown in Fig. 13 there extends up from the bearing 5 a pair of guides, 28 and 29, in which is slidably mounted the rod 30, which latter is operable endwise parallel with shaft 6. Secured on the inner end of rod 30 is the yoke31 whose segmental portion fits in the channel f, above referred to.

Now by moving the rod 30 the yoke 31 will move 'the cone 25 into and out of engagement with the member 2-1. It will now be seen that if the clamping-rings of the various speed changing devices be free, that if the clutch be placed in gear, that spindle 23 will be revolved at the same speed as that of the shaft 6, thereby providing a direct drive. Also by disengaging the clutch it is apparent that the spindle 23 will be out of gear and it will not be revolved. Now by means of the lever 16 of either one of the speed changing devices I am able to place either one of the speed changing devices in gear, in order to impart to the spindle 23 the speed desired.

I desire that it be understood that without departing from the'principles of my invention as set forth, that is having the clamping rings of same size, as in Fig. 12, with the rollers and the bosses different in the various devices, I may obtain the same results by having the diameter of the bosses the same and having the diameter of the rollers and that of the clamping-rings different in the various devices.

I desire that it beunderstood that various changes may be made in the several details of construction, the parts may be differently arranged, and the proportional sizes of the parts may be varied from that herein shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus of the nature set forth comprising, a rotatable shaft having a boss forming an enlargement thereof, a spool concentric with said boss, a spindle surrounding the shaft and rigid with said spool, a clamping-ring surrounding the spool, rollers carried by the spool and radially operable therein, means for opening and closing the clamping-ring, and a clutch adapted, when in engagement, to cause said spindle to revolve at the same speed as said shaft, all substantially as shown and described.

2. The construction herein set forth comprising a shaft having a plurality of bosses carried thereby, a spool concentric with each of said bosses, all of the spools being connected together, rollers rotatably mounted and radially movable in each of said spools, a clamp surrounding each spool, means for contracting each clamp upon its respective set of rollers and the rollers in turn upon their respective bosses, and a spindle carried by said spools and surrounding the shaft, all substantially as shown and described.

3. A construction of the nature set forth comprising a shaft having bosses carried thereby and extending therearound and concentric therewith, a spool concentric with each boss, all of the spools being connected together, rollers mounted and radially movable in each of said spools, a clamp surrounding each of said spools, means for contracting each clamp upon its respective set of rollers, and pressing the rollers in turn upon their respective bosses, a spindle carried by the spools, and a clutch adapted to connect the spools and the shaft together to provide a direct drive.

4:. An apparatus of the nature set forth, comprising a rotatable shaft having a boss forming an enlargement thereof, a spool concentric with said boss, :1 clamping-ring surrounding the spool,rollers carried by the spool and radially operabletherein, and means for radially opening and closing the clamping-ring, all substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscrlbmg witnesses.

WILLIAM H. RODEFELD.

Witnesses:

Ron'r. W. RANDLE, R. E. RANDLE. 

